Chief accountant’s daughter remanded in Greek Horiatiko fraud case
The chief accountant’s daughter has also been remanded in custody in the case involving the To Horiatiko bakery chain. ERT reported the decision at 21:46 on 30 October; her father had earlier been placed under house arrest.
Rizos Rizos, a former GENOP-DEI union official, was also remanded in custody after questioning in the Horiatiko case, ERT and SKAI reported on 30 October. The decision follows the remand of bakery-chain owner Angelos Giannakopoulos. Questioning of other defendants continued.
According to SKAI, the investigating judge and prosecutor ordered pre-trial detention after questioning. Giannakopoulos had requested conditional release or house arrest, citing health problems. ERT reported that questioning lasted about forty minutes and that he also cited his minor child in seeking a less restrictive measure.
Reports say the businessman denied hiding taxable income or intending to harm the state. His defence maintained that changes of company managers were intended to keep businesses operating and allow debts to be settled. SKAI also reported that his son was released under conditions and on €20,000 bail.
At 16:32 Greek time on 29 October, SKAI reported that three of the seven defendants questioned up to that point had been remanded. The other four were released subject to restrictions, with financial bail also imposed on some. According to the report, questioning of the remaining defendants called for the day was continuing.
AFP reported the arrests on 28 October, citing Greece’s ANA news agency. Those detained include the chain’s owner, accountants and a former trade union official. Alpha TV reported that proceedings had been brought against the 59 suspects and that they had appeared before an investigating judge.
According to CNN Greece, the organised crime division is examining hundreds of businesses in which front men allegedly concealed real control or economic activity. The investigation extends beyond bakeries to other businesses belonging to the entrepreneur.
CNN says Giannakopoulos was arrested near Ioannina on 25 October while trying to leave for Albania. Its report also mentions a ban on leaving Greece. His lawyer told Alpha TV that his client rejects the financial allegations.
Alpha TV says the anti-money-laundering authority froze accounts while excluding employees’ payroll accounts. Some franchise operators also deny involvement.
Greek police published further details on 30 October: the operation launched on 25 October led to 59 arrests, while the full case file covers 149 accused people. Police describe a network of 430 interconnected companies, 340 of which were allegedly used to avoid taxes, social contributions and other obligations. They trace the activities back to at least 2016.
Police estimate losses from unpaid obligations at almost €77 million, excluding surcharges. This is distinct from more than €95.5 million in recorded company debts due for payment. Investigators say indebted companies were replaced by new businesses under the same actual management, with front persons as formal directors. Eighteen vehicles were among the seizures; bank accounts and funds were also frozen.
At 16:53 on 30 October, ERT reported that two more defendants from Rhodes had been remanded in custody. They allegedly had close business ties with Giannakopoulos. According to the broadcaster, an elderly defendant was placed under electronically monitored house arrest, with his age and health problems taken into account. Questioning of other defendants was still continuing at that point.
In a later report at 21:46 on 30 October, ERT said that the chief accountant’s daughter had also been remanded in custody. She is an accountant too. Her father had earlier been placed under house arrest because of his age and health problems.
